School Connection
December 20, 2002
2003 Goal: By 2003, 95 percent of students tested will be
at or above grade level as measured by NC End-of-Grade testing
at grades 3 and 8.
OPENING OF YEAR-ROUND SCHOOLS IN WESTERN WAKE COUNTY
At its Tuesday (Dec. 17) meeting, the Board of Education named
East Cary Middle and the new Carpenter Elementary as year-round
schools, providing two additional year-round schools in the
western part of the county.
East Cary Middle School's students will permanently relocate to the new Reedy Creek Middle School in 2003-04. Ramey Beavers, WCPSS senior director for growth management, told the board that many of the East Cary parents who attended a public hearing Dec. 10 supported the proposal. Beavers said East Cary's staff overwhelmingly supports the move. The new Carpenter Elementary School will serve as an interim ninth-grade center for Green Hope High in 2004 and 2005 and then will open in 2006 as a year-round elementary school. At its Nov. 18 meeting, board members agreed the new Turner Creek Elementary School would open in 2004 on the year-round calendar.
The board's actions finalized plans for opening a number of new schools in the fast growing western part of Wake County. In 2004, Turner Creek Elementary will open as a year-round school serving kindergarten to fourth grade. Highcroft Elementary and Salem Middle will open as traditional calendar schools. Carpenter Elementary will serve as a ninth grade center for Green Hope High and the East Cary Middle site will serve as a ninth grade center for Cary High. In 2005, Turner Creek Elementary will add its fifth grade. Cary Park Elementary and Cedar Fork Elementary will open as traditional calendar schools. Carpenter Elementary and the East Cary Middle site will continue to serve as ninth grade centers. In 2006, Carpenter Elementary and the East Cary Middle site will become year-round schools.
BOARD SEEKS PROPERTY FOR NEW HIGH SCHOOL IN WESTERN WAKE
COUNTY
At its Tuesday (Dec. 17) meeting, the Board of Education agreed
to condemn a site near Holly Springs for a new high school.
The school system has been in discussion with the landowner,
but has not been able to agree on a price. Condemning the
property allows the court to settle a fair market value for
the property. The board wants to acquire 92.5 acres at the
intersection of Avent Ferry and Cass Holt roads currently
used as farmland.
BOARD HEARS UPDATE ON 4x4 BLOCK SCHEDULING
At its Tuesday (Dec. 17) Committee of the Whole meeting, Board
of Education members heard praise from Associate Superintendent
Jo Baker for the efforts by principals to inform the community
about the change to 4x4 block scheduling in high schools next
school year. A total of nearly 3,000 people attended parent
meetings principals held at each high school. The principals
led staff meetings, met with PTA and other groups, and used
their newsletters and websites. Baker worked with principals
to develop a plan for getting information on the block schedule
to the community. Baker's staff developed a website, talked
with news media, and prepared materials such as a brochure,
PowerPoint presentation and sample student plans principals
used in the school's meetings. Baker's staff talked with middle
and high school instructional leaders to share information,
answer questions and solicit ideas. Superintendent McNeal
sent a letter to parents of high school students to inform
them of the new schedule and the principals' information meetings.
Baker said the high school program planning guide has been
updated and a PowerPoint presentation on course registration
will be provided to schools in February. Superintendent McNeal
congratulated the high school principals and Baker on the
steps taken to answer parents' concerns about the changing
schedule.
NEW SCHOOL PLANNING SCHEDULE
At its Tuesday (Dec. 17) meeting, the Board of Education heard
information on the schedules for new school projects. Christina
Lighthall, senior director of Facilities Planning and Construction,
told the board it will take 47 months to build a high school,
38 months for a middle school, and 31 months for an elementary
school when re-using a prototype design. Lighthall said it
could take an additional four months if a new design is used.
The schedule begins with site acquisition, includes design,
the approval and permitting process, and construction. She
said providing optimal time for construction helps to get
a good bid and quality construction. She said the school system
has been working with local governments to standardize the
permitting and inspection process to save some time.
SUPERINTENDENT MCNEAL DISCUSSES PARENT SURVEY
Superintendent Bill McNeal reviewed the WCPSS Parent Survey
with the board of Education at its Tuesday (Dec. 17) meeting.
McNeal said the survey of more than 10,000 parents by the
WCPSS Evaluation and Research Department provides important
information about parent perceptions about the quality of
education in our schools. The superintendent noted that 84
percent of parents rated the schools with an 'A' or 'B,' 92
percent said their children received challenging work, 97
percent said the schools were a safe place to learn, and 96
percent said they received courteous attention when visiting
or contacting a school. McNeal said the report is outstanding
and generally shows growing support for school system performance.
The surveys have been conducted since 1991.
BOARD APPROVES BIDS FOR SCHOOL RENOVATION
At its Tuesday (Dec. 17) meeting, the Board of Education approved
bids for the addition and renovations at Wake Forest Elementary.
The board awarded the single-prime contract to Blue Ridge
Enterprises, Inc., in the amount of $4,967,000.
BOARD APPROVES DOCUMENTS FOR NEW ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
At its Tuesday (Dec. 17) meeting, the Board of Education approved
construction documents designed by Small Kane Architects,
PA for Forestville Elementary. The total project budget is
$13,452,391, of which $11,152,391 is from the PLAN 2000 School
Building Program, and $2,300,000 is the estimated funding
from the Town of Knightdale.
BOARD APPROVES ARCHITECT FOR NEW HIGH SCHOOL
At its Tuesday (Dec. 17) meeting, the Board of Education selected
Boney, PLLC for the design of High H4 "Panther-Creek"
to be located in western Wake County. The Knightdale High
prototype will be used to shorten design time, reduce cost,
and help expedite the project.
BOARD APPROVES AGREEMENTS FOR PARKS
At its Tuesday (Dec. 17) meeting, the Board of Education approved
interlocal agreements with Wake County, the Town of Holly
Springs and the Town of Fuquay-Varina for the development
of park facilities at Ballentine, Holly Springs and Zebulon
elementary schools. The agreement for each project sets forth
terms and conditions under which property shall be developed
and used
BOARD APPROVES LEASE FOR PROPOSED LIBRARY
At its Tuesday (Dec. 17) meeting, the Board of Education approved
a lease agreement with Wake County providing a 99-year Ground
Lease for 3.71 acres along West Lake Road at Middle Creek
High. The county paid a portion of the site acquisition costs
and plans to construct a freestanding public library at the
site. Construction of the library is subject to funding requirements
with the Board of Education having the ability to terminate
the lease if construction has not begun within 15 years of
the date of the lease agreement. Wake County contributed $200,000
towards land acquisition cost. Should the lease be terminated,
the board would return to Wake County a pro-rated amount estimated
at $78,000.
WAKE EDUCATION PARTNERSHIP PRESENTS GRANTS TO TEACHERS
The Wake Education Partnership awarded $62,000 in Food for
Thought Grants to 34 Wake County teachers to help them promote
effective teaching. The winning teachers include Susan Lovett
of Aversboro Elementary, Dee Bostick of Baileywick Elementary,
Cissy McKissick and Susan Eller of the Bridges program, Michael
Armstrong of Bugg Elementary, Catherine Smith of Creech Road
Elementary, Elizabeth Davis of Fox Road Elementary, Gay Barnes
and of Jeffreys Groves Elementary, Diane Petteway of Joyner
Elementary, Jim Hunt and Fran Knauss of Lincoln Heights Elementary,
and, Mary Decker of Olive Chapel Elementary, Lois Edwards
and Lynn Lyle of Powell Elementary, Karen D'Elia of Reedy
Creek Elementary, Anna Mahjoub of Smith Elementary, Beverly
Mitchell of Stough Elementary, Larissa Kwiatkowski of Wakefield
Elementary, Candy McShea of Wendell Elementary, Lynda Smith
of Wilburn Elementary, Yoshiko Johnson of Wiley Elementary,
and Michael Cruze and Kim Grant of Yates Mill Elementary,
as well as Sue Klaric and Hazel Sanders of Carroll Middle,
Amy Brown of East Wake High, Stephen Moss of Fuquay-Varina
Middle, Patricia Schweigert of Leesville Road Middle, Michelle
Parkerson of Ligon Middle, Lisa Hinds of Longview, Jill Bliss
of Lufkin Road Middle, Glenda Cox of Martin Middle, Jeannette
Stevenson of Sanderson High, and Sam Wheeler of Southeast
Raleigh High.
CARNAGE IS FIRST IN THE STATE
Carnage Middle School's seventh- and eighth-grade Quiz Bowl
Team has achieved impressive scores in two competitions this
fall. In the Knowledge Master Open, an international quiz
bowl contest, the team placed first in North Carolina and
nineteenth overall out of the over 850 middle school teams
that participated nationwide and from four foreign countries.
In the Thinking Cap Contest for North Carolina, Carnage had
the highest percentage of correct answers (93%) in the state
and earned second place overall of the 25 middle schools across
the state that competed. The team members: Alan Mitchell (captain),
Albert Chu, Katharine Edwards, Marisa Gilmore, Cameron Green,
James Ho, Michael Hogan, Aneitra Hoggard, KiYoung Kim, Young
Lee, Andrew Lipetzky, Mike Northeim, Liam O'Toole, Hari Ramalingam,
Smitha Sharma, Clayton Thomas, Jonathan Tugwell, Alice Yen.
Lindsey Ligett is the faculty coach.
ENLOE STUDENT RECOGNIZED IN MATH, SCIENCE TECHNOLOGY
COMPETITION
Enloe High senior Ed Su was selected as a regional semifinalist
in the Siemens Westinghouse Competition in Math, Science and
Technology. Su made a presentation on 'Electron-Photon interactions
in carbon nanotubes' at the Southern Region competition Nov.
22 in Atlanta. He earned a bronze medal and $1,000 scholarship.
SANDERSON HIGH STUDENT EARNS NATIONAL RECOGNITION
Sanderson High Junior Wells Struble has been selected by ihigh.com
as the first national iHigh "Top Teen Award" winner.
Selection for the award is based on personal achievements,
leadership and overall community involvement. Struble has
a strong academic and athletic record. He is an honor roll
student who is on the school track team and plays in an area
soccer league. School officials note that Struble is noted
for his community service work and active in his church.
GARNER STUDENT RECOGNIZED FOR VOLUNTEER WORK
Shannon Stancil of Garner Senior High received the Clara Simon
Award at the annual banquet of the Mental Health Association
of North Carolina. Stancil was recognized for her volunteer
work at Dorothea Dix Hospital. As part of a Girl Scout project,
she led a clothing drive for the hospital's teen patients,
and helped in construction of a clothes closet that she now
operates for them.
BOARD HONORS STUDENTS
At its Tuesday (Dec. 17) meeting, the Board of Education recognized
twelve students with the Spotlight on Students award. The
students included: Frankie Eugene Shipman of Wake Forest-Rolesville
High, Jimmy Evans of Apex Elementary, Roland Ruutel of Brentwood
Elementary, Ashley Scott of Rand Road Elementary, Kelsey Jefferies
of Swift Creek Elementary, Maria Arulraja of Baucom Elementary,
Latarsha Lucas of Zebulon Elementary, Taylor Kathleen Ellington
of East Cary Middle, Kathleen Jackson of Ligon Middle, Hannah
Kearney of Jeffreys Grove Elementary, Nathan Baker of Combs
Elementary, and Will Pittman of Timber Drive Elementary.
INSIDE THE NEWS
U.S. Department of Education reports "First
Annual Student Achievement and School Accountability Conference:
Using Title I Programs as a Model for Reform"; "Two
New Education Offices Begin Official Operations"
and "President
Bush Unveils New Guidance Empowering Faith-Based and Community
Groups to Provide Extra Academic Help to Low-Income Students"
Education Week reports "States
Strive Toward ESEA Compliance"; "Bullying
Policies Slow to Reach Schools"; and "'Achievement
Gap' Is International Problem, UNICEF Analysis Says"
The Beacon of LEARN NC reports on education
CNN reports on education
The National School Board Association reports the School Board News
CALENDAR
|
Dec 23- Jan 1 |
Winter Break for students |
|
Jan. 7 |
2 p.m., Board Committee of the Whole; 4 p.m., Board Meeting, Board Room |
|
Jan. 10 |
Wake Forest Rolesville High names gym for Larry Linzey |
|
Jan. 14 |
12:30 p.m., Policy Committee Meeting; 2 p.m., Community Relations Committee; and 3:30 p.m., Finance Committee Meeting |
|
Jan. 15 |
12 p.m., Joint Luncheon, Board Conference Room; 2 p.m., Facilities Committee Meeting |
|
Jan. 20 |
Martin Luther King Holiday |
|
Jan. 23, 5 p.m. |
Healthy Schools Task Force meets at Webster Center |
You can find more information on school events at http://www.wcpss.net/Calendars
School Connection is published electronically every other week for everyone interested in the Wake County Public Schools. Is what you read in this edition helpful? What information would you like to see in future editions? Contact me by calling 850-1829 or e-mailing bposton@wcpss.net.
Bill Poston
Wake County Public School System
Communications Department
3600 Wake Forest Road
Raleigh, North Carolina 27611
Tell a friend about the School Connection and encourage them
to sign up at
http://www.wcpss.net/online_newsletters/the_school_connection